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Oral Administration of Gammalinolenic Acid, an Unsaturated Fatty Acid with Anti-inflammatory Properties, Modulates Interleukin-1β Production by Human Monocytes

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Abstract

Administration of gammalinolenic acid (GLA), an unsaturated fatty acid, reduces joint inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Addition of GLA in vitro suppresses release of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) from human monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS-induced IL-1β release is followed by IL-1-induced IL-1β release, an amplification process termed “autoinduction.” We show here, using IL-1α stimulation to simulate autoinduction, that administration of GLA to healthy volunteers and to patients with inflammatory arthritis reduces LPS-induced IL-1β secretion mainly by reducing autoinduction of IL-1β. GLA reduces LPS-induced pro-IL-1β mRNA modestly and IL-1α-induced pro-IL-1β gene expression markedly. In addition to reducing amplification of IL-1β, GLA increases the amount of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) secreted from stimulated cells, thereby facilitating an increase in the secreted IL-1Ra/IL-1β ratio. IL-1β is important to host defense, but the amplification mechanism may be excessive in genetically predisposed individuals. Thus, reduction of IL-1β autoinduction may be protective in some patients with endotoxic shock and with diseases characterized by chronic inflammation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01655

    Robert K. Furse, Ronald G. Rossetti, Christina M. Seiler & Robert B. Zurier

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  1. Robert K. Furse
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  2. Ronald G. Rossetti
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  3. Christina M. Seiler
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  4. Robert B. Zurier
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Furse, R.K., Rossetti, R.G., Seiler, C.M. et al. Oral Administration of Gammalinolenic Acid, an Unsaturated Fatty Acid with Anti-inflammatory Properties, Modulates Interleukin-1β Production by Human Monocytes. J Clin Immunol 22, 83–91 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014479702575

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